Mapping the Left

A COLLECTION OF MAPS, CHARTS, FAMILY TREES, GENEALOGIES, FLOW CHARTS, VENN DIAGRAMS, AND GLOSSARIES ON THE LEFT

MAPS

1. THE RISE AND FALL OF MARXIST-LENINIST COMMUNISM

Map of countries that declared themselves to be socialist states under the Marxist–Leninist or Maoist definition – that is to say, “Communist states” – between 1979 and 1983. This period marked the greatest territorial extent of Communist states.

This is a bit of a departure from my column reprints, and from text heavy posts. I’m a big fan of information conveyed graphically, hence this set of maps charting the rise and fall of Leninist-style Communism. It was originally done as a GIF, which I don’t have the capacity to host on this sight. But this is self-explanatory. One caveat, the regimes in Africa, the Middle East, and Central America tagged as “Communist” were actually either one-party states with Leninist tendencies but not ruled by the Communist Party, or multi-party states with strong Leninist elements, or allies of the old Soviet Union, and cannot properly be called Communist:

2. ANARCHISM/LEFT COMMUNISM

Liberated anarchist territory is in black while left communist territory is in red as of 2015:

3. SOCIAL DEMOCRACY

Countries governed as of 2014 by parties belonging to the Socialist International and thus subject to change by election:

4. SOCIALISM/COMMUNISM COMBINED

Socialist and Communist countries, historically and as of 2013. There are significant discrepancies between the various maps presented above and this one. And the information provided below this map has not been verified or fact checked by me:

A map showing the current and former communist and socialist countries and about the rule of Communist and Socialist Parties in the world.

Freedom Index:
1.Full Democracy: countries that are fully democratic and free with excellent human rights record, low crime and corruption.

2.Flawed Democracy: countries that are democratic but have some problems with corruption and transparency.

3.Hybrid Regime: countries that combine democratic and authoritarian elements, are partially free with noticeable problems with crime, corruption, human rights.

4.Authoritarian Regime: countries that can be called dictatorships which are not free, oppressive, undemocratic and have serious problems with human rights, corruption and transparency.

5.Totalitarian Regime: Totalitarianism is an extreme version of authoritarianism. Totalitarianism is a political system in which the state holds total authority over the society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life. These countries have the worst human rights conditions and are very oppressive.

Party System:
1)Multi-Party System: a system in which multiple political parties have the capacity to gain control of government offices, separately or in coalition.

2)Dominant-Party System: a system of majority rule where one political party has successively won election victories by a very large majority and is therefore the dominant ruling party, which does not have to form coalitions (alliances) with other smaller political parties as a result.
The dominant-party state differs from a single-party state, because opposition parties against the dominant ruling party are allowed, but have no real chance of gaining power.

3)Single-Party System: a system in which a single political party forms the government, usually based on the existing constitution. All other parties are either outlawed or allowed to take only a limited and controlled participation in the election.
Most one-party states are dictatorships.

Current Marxist-Leninist Communist Countries
==================================

Republic of Cuba:
Communist since: 1961
The Constitution of 1976, which defined Cuba as a socialist republic, was replaced by the Constitution of 1992, which is “guided by the ideas of José Martí and the political and social ideas of Marx, Engels and Lenin.”
Government: Single-Party Marxist-Leninist State
Party: Communist Party of Cuba
Freedom Index: Authoritarian Regime

Lao People’s Democratic Republic:
Communist since: 1975
The government began to decentralise control and encourage private enterprise and market economy in 1986 and in 1991 the coat of arms was change replacing the red star and the hammer &sickle with the national shrine Pha That Luang.
Government: Single-Party Marxist-Leninist State
Party: Lao People’s Revolutionary Party
Freedom Index: Authoritarian Regime

Former Marxist-Leninist Communist Countries
=================================

People’s Republic of China
Communist since: 1949
Replaced Marxism-Leninism with the Mao Zedong Thought and adopted Market Socialism in 1978 then Capitalism as economic system replacing Communism in 1994.
Government: Single-party Socialist State
Party: Communist Party of China
Freedom Index: Authoritarian Regime

Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Communist since: 1945
Replaced Marxism-Leninism with Ho Chi Minh Though in 1991 and replaced Communism with Market Socialism in 1986
Government: Single-party Socialist State
Party: Communist Party of Vietnam
Freedom Index: Authoritarian Regime

Non-Communist Country currently ruled by Communist Party
=============================================

Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) won the largest number of seats in the Constituent Assembly election held on 10 April 2008, and formed a coalition government which included most of the parties in the Constituent Assembly.
The ensuing elections for the constituent assembly on 28 May 2008 overwhelmingly favored the abolishment of the monarchy and the establishment of a federal multiparty representative democratic republic.
Government: Multi-Party Federal Parliamentary Republic
Party: Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)
Freedom Index: Hybrid Regime

Non-Communist Country that was ruled by Communist Party
=============================================

Republic of Cyprus
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Presidential Republic
Party: Progressive Party of Working People
Freedom Index: Flawed Democracy

Republic of Moldova
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Parliamentary Republic
Party: Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova
Freedom Index: Flawed Democracy

Current Socialist States
==================

People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Socialist since: 1971
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Socialist Parliamentarian Republic
Freedom Index: Hybrid Regime

Co-operative Republic of Guyana
Socialist since: 1980
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Socialist Semi-Presidential Republic
Freedom Index: Flawed Democracy

Republic of India:
Socialist since: 1947
Government: Multi-Party Federal Socialist Parliamentarian Republic
Freedom Index: Flawed Democracy

Portuguese Republic:
Socialist Since: 1978
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Socialist Parliamentarian Republic
Freedom Index: Flawed Democracy

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka:
Socialist since: 1978
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Socialist Presidential Republic
Freedom Index: Hybrid Regime

United Republic of Tanzania:
Socialist since: 1964
Government: Dominant-Party Unitary Socialist Presidential Republic
Freedom Index: Hybrid Regime

Former Socialist States
==================

People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria
Socialist from 1963 till 1989
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic
Freedom Index: Authoritarian Regime

Republic of Bolivia
Socialist from 1969 till 1971
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Presidential Republic
Freedom Index: Hybrid Regime

Burkina Faso
Socialist from 1984 till 1987
Government: Dominant-Party Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic
Freedom Index: Authoritarian Regime

Republic of the Union of Burma
Socialist from 1962 till 1988
Government: Dominant-Party Unitary Presidential Republic
Freedom Index: Authoritarian Regime

Republic of Cape Verde
Socialist from 1975 till 1991
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Parliamentary Republic
Freedom Index: Flawed Democracy

Union of the Comoros
Socialist from 1975 till 1978
Government: Multi-Party Federal Presidential Republic
Freedom Index: Authoritarian Regime

Arab Republic of Egypt
Socialist from 1952 till 1978
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic
Freedom Index: Hybrid Regime

Republic of Ghana
Socialist from 1957 till 1966
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Presidential Republic
Freedom Index: Flawed Democracy

Republic of Guinea
Socialist from 1958 till 1984
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Presidential Republic
Freedom Index: Hybrid Regime

Republic of Guinea-Bissau
Socialist from 1973 till 2000
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic
Freedom Index: Hybrid Regime

Republic of Indonesia
Socialist from 1945 till 1967
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Presidential Republic
Freedom Index: Flawed Democracy

Republic of Iraq
Socialist from 1958 till 1979
Government: Multi-Party Federal Presidential Republic
Freedom Index: Hybrid Regime

Republic of Kenya
Socialist from 1964 till 1992
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic
Freedom Index: Hybrid Regime

State of Libya
Socialist from 1969 till 2011
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic
Freedom Index: Hybrid Regime

Republic of Madagascar
Socialist from 1975 till 1992
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic
Freedom Index: Authoritarian Regime

United Mexican States
Socialist from 1920 till 2000
Government: Multi-Party Federal Presidential Republic
Freedom Index: Flawed Democracy

Republic of Nicaragua
Socialist from 1979 till 1990
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Presidential Republic
Freedom Index: Hybrid Regime

Republic of Panama
Socialist from 1968 till 1984
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Presidential Republic
Freedom Index: Flawed Democracy

Republic of Peru
Socialist from 1968 till 1980
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Presidential Republic
Freedom Index: Flawed Democracy

Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
Socialist from 1975 till 1991
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic
Freedom Index: Flawed Democracy

Republic of Seychelles
Socialist from 1977 till 1992
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Presidential Republic
Freedom Index: Flawed Democracy

Republic of Sudan
Socialist from 1973 till 1985
Government: Dominant-Party Federal Presidential Republic
Freedom Index: Authoritarian Regime

Republic of Suriname
Socialist from 1980 till 1988
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Presidential Republic
Freedom Index: Flawed Democracy

Republic of Uganda
Socialist from 1966 till 1971
Government: Dominant-Party Unitary Presidential Republic
Freedom Index: Hybrid Regime

Republic of Zambia
Socialist from 1973 till 1991
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Presidential Republic
Freedom Index: Flawed Democracy

Non-Socialist Countries currently ruled by Socialist Party
==========================================

Republic of Angola
Commonwealth of Australia
Republic of Austria
Kingdom of Belgium
Republic of Costa Rica
Republic of Croatia
French Republic
Republic of Guinea
Iceland
Republic of Mali
Republic of Mauritius
Montenegro
Republic of Namibia
Republic of Nicaragua
Republic of Niger
Kingdom of Norway
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Republic of South Africa
Oriental Republic of Uruguay

Non-Socialist Countries that were ruled by Socialist Party
===========================================

Mongolia
Kingdom of Spain

Former Communist Country now Juche State
==================================

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Communist since: 1948 till 1972/1992
Replaced Marxism-Leninism with Juche as state ideology in 1972, all references to Marxism-Leninism in the DPRK constitution were dropped and replaced with Juche in 1992, then removed any reference of Communism in 2009.
Government: Single-party Juche Socialist State (de jure)
Single-Party Stalinist Hereditary Dictatorship (de facto)
Party: Workers’ Party of Korea
Freedom Index: Totalitarian Regime

Former Communist Countries now Authoritarian States
=========================================

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Communist since: 1978 – 1992
Government: Multi-Party Islamic Republic

Republic of Azerbaijan
Communist since: 1920–1991
Government: Dominant-Party Unitary Presidential Republic

Republic of Belarus
Communist since: 1920–1991
Government: No-Party Unitary Presidential Republic

Republic of the Congo
Communist since: 1970 – 1992
Government: Dominant-Party Unitary Presidential Republic

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Communist since: 1974 – 1991
Government: Dominant-Party Federal Presidential Republic

Republic of Kazakhstan
Communist since: 1936 – 1991
Government: Dominant-Party Unitary Presidential Republic

Russian Federation
Communist since: 1917 – 1991
Government: Dominant-Party Federal Semi-Presidential Republic

Somali Democratic Republic
Communist since: 1969–1991
Government: Federal Parliamentary Republic (National Multi-Party system pending; regional political parties extant in autonomous Somaliland and Puntland regions)

Republic of Tajikistan
Communist since: 1929–1991
Government: Dominant-Party Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic

Turkmenistan
Communist since: 1921–1991
Government: Dominant-Party Unitary Presidential Republic

Republic of Uzbekistan
Communist since: 1924–1991
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Presidential Republic

Yemeni Republic – People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen/South Yemen
Communist since: 1967 – 1990
Government: Dominant-Party Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic

Former Communist Countries now Hybrid Regimes
=====================================

Republic of Albania
Communist since: 1944–1992
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Parliamentary Republic

Republic of Armenia
Communist since: 1920–1991
Government: Dominant-Party Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Communist since: 1943–1992
Government: Multi-Party Federal Parliamentary Republic

Kingdom of Cambodia
Communist since: 1975 – 1989
Government: Dominat-Party Unitary Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy

Georgia
Communist since: 1921 – 1991
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic

Kyrgyz Republic
Communist since: 1936–1991
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Parliamentary Republic

Mongolia
Communist since: 1924 – 1992
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Parliamentary Republic

Republic of Mozambique
Communist since: 1975 – 1990
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic

Ukraine
Communist since: 1919 – 1991
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic

Former Communist Countries now Flawed Democracies
=========================================

Republic of Benin
Communist since: 1975 – 1990
Government: Two-Party Unitary Presidential Republic

Republic of Bulgaria
Communist since: 1946 – 1990
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Parliamentary Republic

Republic of Croatia
Communist since: 1943 – 1990
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Parliamentary Republic

Republic of Estonia
Communist since: 1918 – 1919, 1940 – 1990
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Parliamentary Republic

Hungary
Communist since: 1919, 1949 – 1989
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Parliamentary Republic

Republic of Latvia
Communist since: 1918 – 1920, 1940 – 1991
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Parliamentary Republic

Republic of Lithuania
Communist since: 1919, 1940 – 1991
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Parliamentary Republic

Republic of Macedonia
Communist since: 1943 – 1991
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Parliamentary Republic

Republic of Moldova
Communist since: 1919, 1940 – 1991
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Parliamentary Republic

Montenegro
Communist since: 1943 – 1992
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Parliamentary Republic

Republic of Poland
Communist since: 1945 – 1989
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Parliamentary Republic

Romania
Communist since: 1947 – 1989
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic

Republic of Serbia
Communist since: 1943 – 1992
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Parliamentary Republic

Slovak Republic
Communist since: 1948 – 1989
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Parliamentary Republic

Republic of Slovenia
Communist since: 1943 – 1991
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Parliamentary Republic

Former Communist Countries now Full Democracies
=========================================

Czech Republic
Communist since: 1948 – 1993
Government: Multi-Party Unitary Parliamentary Republic

Federal Republic of Germany – German Democratic Republic/East Germany
Communist since: 1949 – 1990
Government: Multi-Party Federal Parliamentary Republic

FAMILY TREES, CHARTS, GRAPHS, etc

1. MARXIST GENEALOGY (DAVID McLELLAN)

2. LIBERTARIAN MARXIST FAMILY TREE

3. AMERICAN TROTSKYISM FAMILY TREE

4. BRITISH TROTSKYISM FAMILY TREE

5. NEW COMMUNIST MOVEMENT FAMILY TREE by Freedom Road Socialist Organization

6. COMMUNIST PARTY OF GREAT BRITAIN FAMILY TREE

7. FAMILY TREE CHART OF US ANTI-REVISIONISM, 1956-1977 by the Communist Workers Group (Marxist-Leninist)

8. ANARCHIST VENN DIAGRAM

9. FAMILY TREE OF RADICAL TURKISH LEFT

10. MORE TROT FAMILY TREE

11. LEFT-WING LINGO, IDEOLOGIES AND HISTORY

Put together by J. Hughes for the Democratic Socialists of America, and hosted by their website for a time, this is a copy of the original posting which seems to have disappeared from the worldwide web aside from this right-wing reprint. All hyperlinks have been deleted and dubious text links redacted. The information here is sometimes simplistic, inaccurate and outdated, but it can serve as a starting point for more in-depth political discussions: